Kelly school officials look at options after election loss

BENTON, Mo. -- The Kelly School District and its superintendent, Don Moore, may have lost another battle concerning the reoccurring bond issue, but the war is far from over. Ironically, the latest defeat has supplied the school with encouragement.

"It's very disappointing that the bond issue failed," Moore said, "but it's also encouraging because it didn't fail miserably."

He cited a-better-than-expected turnout and that the measure was a lot closer to passing than previous bond issues,. The vote was 494 for the bond issue and 413 against, with the measure losing by 23 votes.

A super majority of four-sevenths was needed to pass the $3 million bond issue, which would have increased the tax levy by 19 cents, raising the tax to $3.36 per $100 assessed valuation.

An exact date is unknown, but in the next few weeks, the building committee will meet to come up with a proposal, Moore said. Then, the committee must meet with the school board to decide what will happen next.

Moore said two voting options remain for the school district this year. The issue can be placed on the ballot for the seventh time in August or November, where four-sevenths of the votes will be required to pass, or the issue can be placed on the ballot next April with a four-sevenths vote required.

Until the building committee and the school board meet, Moore said he isn't sure what the future holds for the school district.

If passed, the project would have funded the construction of a new high school and would have eliminated the 13 mobile units used for classrooms.